Identification and characterization of targets for insect control Diaphorina citri, vector citrus disease Huanglongbing

• Grant number: 16/02412-2
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Adriana Karaoglanovic Carmona
• Grantee: Taíse Fernanda da Silva Ferrara
• Home Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is one of the largest producers and exporters of oranges in the world, with the State of São Paulo the largest citrus producer in the country. However, in recent years the citrus genus plants have been strongly affected by various diseases and among these, the HLB disease (HLB) have been highlighted by severely compromising the development of plants, causing losses in fruit production and economic losses to the citrus industry world. The HLB disease, the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter spp., Colonization and clogs the elaborate sap conducting vessels (phloem) and is transmitted by the vector, the psyllid Diaphorina citri. As the current control strategies have not fully effective against the disease, as well as achieving environmental risks and are costly, development strategies, effective and less harmful to the environment is needed to reduce the economic losses of the world's citrus industry this way, an insect detailed study Diaphorina citri to knowledge of its biology and characteristics is of great interest because it may contribute to the development of tools used to control the HLB (HLB). In a recent study, in collaboration with Professor Andrea Soares Costa of the UFSCar we identify, express and characterized a cathepsin B Diaphorina citri that was called DCCathB. In this context, in this project we will continue the DCCathB studies, seeing a possible target for control of D. citri. In addition, we aim to identify and characterize other cysteine peptidases type cathepsin B and L D. citri, as well as gene expression analysis of these enzymes by RT-qPCR in different stages of development and insect tissues.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FERRARA, TAISE F. S.; SCHNEIDER, VANESSA K.; LIMA, PATRICIA SILVA; BRONZE, FELLIPE S.; MACHADO, MARCELO F. M.; HENRIQUE-SILVA, FLAVIO; SOARES-COSTA, ANDREA; CARMONA, ADRIANA K. Gene expression studies and molecular characterization of a cathepsin L-like from the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri, vector of Huanglongbing. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 158, p. 375-383, SEP 1 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.

SCHNEIDER, VANESSA KARINE; DA SILVA FERRARA, TAISE FERNANDA; ROCHA, SAMARA VIEIRA; SANTOS-JUNIOR, CELIO DIAS; NEO-JUSTINO, DANIELA MORILHA; DA CUNHA, ANDERSON FERREIRA; MAIA DE OLIVEIRA SILVA, JOAO PEDRO; DOS SANTOS TERSARIOL, IVARNE LUIS; CARMONA, ADRIANA KARAOGLANOVIC; HENRIQUE-SILVA, FLAVIO; SOARES-COSTA, ANDREA. Recombinant expression, characterization and phylogenetic studies of novels cystatins-like proteins of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and clementine (Citrus clementina). International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 152, p. 546-553, JUN 1 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.

GOMES SMAUL, MAYRIM MACHADO; BUDU, ALEXANDRE; MONTAGNA, GEORGINA NURI; DA SILVA FERRARA, TAISE FERNANDA; MALUF, SARAH EL CHAMY; BAGNARESI, PIERO; FERREIRA MACHADO, MARCELO MARCONDES; DOS SANTOS, FELLIPE BRONZE; DE AZEVEDO, MAURO FERREIRA; CARMONA, ADRIANA KARAOGLANOVIC; GAZARINI, MARCOS LEONI. Plasmodium falciparum histidine triad protein and calmodulin modulates calcium homeostasis and intracellular proteolysis. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, v. 503, n. 2, p. 722-728, SEP 5 2018. Web of Science Citations: 0.